Radio apparatus



May 14, 1940- E. F. MoDoNALc), JR 2,200,674

RADIO APPARATUS Filed June 26. 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l gvwwwbon May 14, 1940. l E, F. MCDONALD, JR 2,200,674

RADIO APPARATUS Filed June 26, 1959 5 Shasta-Sheet 2 .lllmmmul Suma/Wto@ 33x43 @74A-w J May 14. 1940- E. F. MoDoNALD, JR 2,200,674

RADIO APPARATUS Filed June26, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII. IIIIIJIII' ?atcnted May 14, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT o1-Fics 2.2N.874 mimo maands Eugene F. McDonald. Jr., Chicago. lll.

Application June 26, 1989. Serial No. 281.297

9 Claims. (Ci. 28o-14) Figure 4 is a plan view of the antenna of Figu This invention relates to radio apparatus, and more particularly to antenna structure particularly adapted for employment with portable radio receiving sets.

Portable radio receiving sets are frequently provided with loop antennas built into the set. usually taking the form of the rear panel of the casing of the set. 'I'he desired location of the set is not always the best position for the antenna and this is particularly true when attempts are made to use portable radio receiving sets within metal shielding structures such as Pullman cars. airplanes, boats, etc, It has heretofore been found impossible to secure satisfactory reception with a portable receiving set when positioned in such shielding structures. In accordance with the present invention, an antenna which is removable from the set but connected thereto by a flexible connection is provided with means for quickly attachably and detachably securing the same to a surface for supporting the same in a plane parallel to the surface or in anyangular relationship with respect to the surface. The antenna may thus be adjustably supported adia- Z cent any opening in the shielding structure so as to enhance or render radio reception possible.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for enhancing the reception of signals by a radio receiving set positioned within a shielding structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a movable radio antenna which may be quickly attachably and detachably secured to a surface and adjusted to any desired angle with respect :l5 to the surface.

Another object o.' the invention is to provide a radio receiving set with a removable antenna which may be quickly attachably and detachably secured to a surface in any one of a plurality of positions either parallel to the surface or at any angle thereto.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description of preferred embodiments thereof shown in the attached drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable radio receiving set and antenna as employed in a railroad car;

60 Figure 2 is a side elevation of a radio receiving set in accordance with the present invention with portions thereof broken away;

Figure 3 is an elevation of an antenna in accordance with the present invention with portions broken away; f

lil)

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the antenna at an angle to the surface to which it is secured:

Figure 6 is an elevation of a modified form of antenna:

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross section taken on line 1-1 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a pli 'i view of the `ioint between the antenna of Figure 7 and its supporting means;

Figure 9 is an elevation of the joint shown in Figure 8:

Figure 10 is an elevation of a still further modied antenna structure; and

Figure l1 is a fragmentary section taken on the line II-II of Figure 10.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 1, I0 indicates a portable radio receiving set shown as positioned on a table II in a railroad car. An antenna structure I2 con' nected to the receiver III through a flexible connection Il is shown as secured to the surface of the glass I4 of a window of the car by means of suction cups I5 and I6. The antenna structure I2 ordinarily forms the rear portion of the casing of the set I0, as shown in Figure 2. Such antenna structure may include a panel member I'I, a panel member I8 and a loop antenna formed of conductors Il, positioned between the panels I'I and Il. The panel I8 may be secured to the panel I1 in any desired manner. such as the bolts -shown in Figure 3.

Referring again to Figure 2, the antenna structurel may have a member 2l secured to the lower part of the panel member I1 and having a portion engaging a groove 22 in a member 23 secured to the base member 24 of the casing of the set I0. e The upper portion of the panel member I1 may have a projection 25 which is adapted to enter into and be retained by a spring clip 26 carried by the upper casing member 2l of the setJIi. The members 2| and 23 cooperate with the projection 28 and spring clip 26 to retain the antenna structure in position in the casing of the set I0. although any other suitable means may be employed for securing the antenna structure to the casing of the set I0.

The flexible connector member Il preferably comprises a flat fabric tube in which are sewed conductors 2l. as more clearly shown inFigure 3. As shown in Figure 2. the flexible connector may be folded within a compartment'of the set formed by the antenna structure I2 and a partition panel 2l. The flexible connecting member I3 connects the antenna to the set in all positions thereof so that the antenna is capable of receiving signal energy and delivering the same to the set either when positioned in the set as shown in Figure 2 or when supported externally of the set as shown in Figure i. 'Ihus the receiving set is operative under ordinary conditions with the antenna positioned therein, but the antenna may be removed and supported upon a surface apart from the set under abnormal conditions in order to enhance radio reception.

As shown in Figures 3-5, inclusive. a suitable arrangement for enabling the antenna to be adjustably supported on a surface apart from the set is to hinge the vacuum cups l5 to one edge of the panel member i8 by means of hinges 30 and secure the vacuum cup i5 to the panel I8 by pivoting the same to a link member 32 which is pivoted to a bracket 33 secured to the panel ll adjacent the center thereof. As shown in Figure 4, the antenna may be positioned parallel to the surface of the glass i4 or other surface. and

' ber 35 carrying the vacuum cups 36.

. the surface 54, to which the vacuum as shown in Figure 5 the antenna structure I4 may be positioned at any desired angle to the plane of the surface.

A modified structure providing for universal adjustment of an antenna structure 34 is shown in Figures 6 to 9, inclusive.v In the structure shown in t'iese figures. an auxiliary supporting member 35 carrying vacuum cups $5 is attached to one corner of the panel member i1 by means of a ball and socket joint 3l. A suitable ball and socket joint 38 is shown more ciearly'in Figures '7 to 9 and may include a pair of formed sheet metal members 39 and 40 secured in amv desired manner to the panel member I1, for example. by the screws 4|. The members ll and 40 may have upstanding flanges 42 and 43, respectively, having spherical portions 44 formed intermediate their ends to provide a socket to receive a ball member 45 forming a part of a plate member 45, secured to the supporting mem- The upstanding flange 42 of the member 38 may have its end portions 4l reversably bent and threaded to receive screws 4B serving to clamp the upstandlng flange 43 of the member 40 to the upstanding flange 42 of the member I9 in order to' clamp the member 45 in the socket formed between the flanges 42 and 43 so that the spherical portions thereof frictionally engage the bail member to yform a universalfriction hinge. It will be apparent that the supporting member Il may be quickly attachedto a supporting surface in any desired position and that-theautenna structure 34 may then be adjusted to any desired angular position with respect to the surface. The engagement of the formed portions 44 ofthe flanges 42 and .43 with the ball member i5 may be made sufficiently tight that the antenna structure is rigidly held in adjusted position but can be manually moved to any other adjusted position.

A still further modified antenna structure 45 is shown in Figures and ll. In the structures shown in these gures. a single vacuum cup 4I is secured to one leaf 4I of a friction hinge Il and the other leaf Il of the hinge -ll is secured to the panel member il of the antenna structure 4l. A spider member 52 may be secured to the leaf 40 oi' the friction hinge Il concentric with the vacuum cup dl. The spring spider member l2 has a plurality `of outwardly extending spring fingers 58 which extend into the u (Il:

adapted to be secured. and prevent stresses parallelto the surface from detaching the vacuum cup I.

'Ihe present invention has maior utility with portable-radio receiving sets and renders the same emcientlycperable even when positioned within shielding structures. Although positioning the antenna structure in the center portion of an opening such as the window I4 of Figure l would reasonably appear to provide the best location for reception within a shielding structure. it has been found that moet eillcient reception of signal energy is usually obtained when the antenna structure is positioned adjacent the edge of the opening and in most cases positioning the antenna structure in the corner of an opening gives most emclent reception. It has also been found that for stations in different directions from the receiving antenna. different positions adjacent the opening and diiierent angular relationship with respect to the plane of the vopening are required for optimum reception. The structure of the present invention provides for quickly positioning and supporting the antenna in the position of best reception.

While the invention has been particularly described with reference to a portable radio receiving set having a single antenna capable of being positioned within to form part of the set and also capable of being removed therefrom and quickly attached or detached from a supporting surface, it is-apparent that the antenna structure of the present invention. may be employed for other types of antennas and may form an auxiliary antenna capable of being optionally substituted for the antenna normally carried by the set.

Although I have specifically disclosed preferred embodiments of the invention, it is understood that the details thereof may be varied within the scope of the followingiclaims.

I claim: i

l. In a radio receiving apparatus comprising a radio receiving set operative under normal conditions' to receive radio signals, the improvement which comprises. means for enhancing reception of said signals under abnormal conditions when said set is positioned within a shielding structure having an opening therein, said means comprising an antenna structure including conductors attached to a panel, an elongated flexible member electrically connecting said conductors to said set, and means provided on said panel forming a unitary structure therewith and constructed and arranged for quickly attachably and detachably securing the same to a surface in any one of a plurality of positions relative to said opening and apart from said set, said last named means including means for securing said antenna to said surface either parallel to said surface or at an angle thereto.

2. In a radio'receiving set provided with an antenna carried by said set and operative under normal conditions to receive radio signals. the improvement 'which comprisesmeans for enhancing reception of said signals under abnormal conditions when said set is positioned within a shielding structure having an opening therein.

said means comprising an elongated-ilexible member electrically connecting said-antenna to said set and means provided on said antenna constructed and arranged for quickly attachably and detachably securing the same to a surface in any one of a plurality of positions relative to said opening and apart from said set, said last named means including means for securing said antennatosaidsurfaceeitherparalleltosald surface or at an angle thereto.

3.1naradiorecelvingsetprovid withan antenna carried by said set and opera ve under normal conditions to receive radio mais. thi! improvement which comprises means for enhancing reception of said signals under abnormal conditions when said set is positioned within a shielding structure having an opening therein. said means comprising an elongated iiexible member electrically connecting said antenna to said set and vacuum cups carried by said antenna for quickly attachably and detachably securing the same to surfaces, including vertical surfaces. in any one of a plurality of positions relative to said opening and apart from said set. said-vacuum cupe being pivotally connected to said antenna to provide for securing said antenna to said surface either parallel to said surface or at an angle thereto.

4. A radio antenna comprising a rigid structure including conductors forming a loop. means carried by said structure for quicklyattachably and detachably securing the same to'a surface in any one of a plurality of positions on said surface and with said loop parallel to said surface or at an angle thereto.

5. A radio antenna comprising a panel member with antenna conductors supported thereby and forming a rigid structure with said member, and means carried by said member for quickly' attachably and detachably :cousins the same to a surface in any one of a plurality of positions on said surface and either parallel to the surface ci' at an angle thereto. l

6. A radio antenna comprising a panel member with antenna conductors supported thereby and forming a rigid structure with said member. and means carried byl said member for quickly attachahly and detachably securing the same to a surface in any one of a plurality of positions on said surface and either parallel to the surface or at an angle thereto, said means comprising a plurality of vacuum cups pivotally connected to said member.

'1. A radio antenna comprising a rigid structure including antenna conductors forming a loop antenna. and means carried by said structure for quickly attachably and detachably securing the same to a surface in any one of a plurality of positions on said surface and with said loop either parallel to the surface or at an angle thereto, said means comprising a plurality of vacuum cups hinged to an edge of said structure and another vacuum cup pivotally connected to a link which in turn is pivotally connected to said structure adjacent the center thereof.

8. A radio antenna comprising a rigid structure including antenna conductors forming a loop antenna, and means carried by said structure for quickly attachably and detachably securing the same to a surface in any one of a plurality of positions on said surface and with said loop either parallel to the surface or at an angle thereto. said moms comprising an attaching member carrying a vacuum cup for attaching the same to said surface and a pivotal connection between said attaching member and said structure 9. A radio antenna comprising a rigid. structure including antenna conductors forming a loop, means carried by said `structure for quickly attachably and detachably securing the same to a surface in any onel of a plurality of positions on said surface and with saidloop parallel to said surface or at an angle thereto, said means comprising an attaching member carrying a vacuum cup for attaching the same to said surface and a universal friction hinge connecting said attaching member and said structure.

' EUGENE r. McDoNAm, Ja. 

